Ham boiler



Jan. 2 l 1930. H. L. wHEELocK HAM BOILER Filed May 25, 1929 Fig. 0.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 21, 193() HENRY L. 1WHEEL()CEI, OF W'ATERLOO, IOWA HAM BOILER Application filed May 23,

My invention relates to improvements in ham boilers, and the object of my improvement is to supply a device of this class with an adjustably and resiliently mounted compression cover plate which, while being elastically clutched adjustably to the boiler, is maintained non-tiltably in any of its adjusted positions relatively to the boiler and its contents, for the proper shaping of the contents la during the boiling process to receive a desired form retained after removal from the boiler'.

This object I have attained and successfully employed by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are i5 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan of the boiler with its planar cover and adjusting connections. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, showing in full lines the cover in its :n uppermost position in the boiler, and showing by the dotted lines the changed positions of the top spring and the adjustable clutch-inembers wh en the same are moved While the cover is under downward pressure as compressingl ..J the contents of the boiler to a desired sha-pe, non-tiltably F ig. 3 is an end elevation, and Fig. 4- is a cross section of the device.

It is to be understood that minor modifications inay be effected in any of the components .zo of the invention, without thereby departing from the protection of the claims herein.

Devices of this type may be used successful y in meat packing houses, but may be employed elsewhere and for any purpose with- .:.5 in the principles of the invention.

The numeral 1 denotes an open top rectangular boiler, imperforate and having at the middle of each end at the top outwardly directed transverse detente, preferably sloped -zlc downwardly, as at 2.

The numeral 3 denotes an oblong planar cover to fit within the open top of said boiler 1 for movements downwardly therein while remaining non-tiltable and always horizontal for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

This cover may have upwardly directed marginal rims and raised transverse ribs 4, one of which is medial. Integral with or rigidly secured to said ribs 4 is a longitudinally medial elongated body 5 serving for a support 1929. s'eriai No. 365,373.

for a medial longitudinal bar spring 11 positioned across a medial widened part 8 and clamped by a recessed plate 6 secured by screws 7.

The end parts of the flat spring 11 are of equal length, when untensioned are curved upwardly outwardly and scrolled at their terminations 16 around pintles 12 which also traverse and are secured in transversely alined apertured bearings at 12 to the incurved upper ends of side flanges 13 on like depending inwardly dentated clutch-members 15, the detents 14 whereof are adapted by being sloped upwardly to engage under and adjustingly clutch the sloping downwardly directed detents 2 on the boiler. Both the detents 14 and 2 are relatively wide transversely of the boiler ends to insure non-tilting interlocking together in any engaged positions. The members 15 are hinged on said pintles 12 to freely swing to and from the ends of the boiler medially.

The dotted lines within the boiler shown in said Fig. 2 represent the shape of a ham or other compressible contents to be treated therein and while being boiled, so as to receive and retain a desired shape after cooking and removal from the boiler. It is desirable that the upper and lower surfaces, also the sides and ends of such a ham or other contents, may be flat for the purposes of packing and storing in tiered cartons or other receptacles, or for carving in slices before serving. My device insures the maintenance of such a shape during said processes.

This is due to the above elements, which as assembled, cause the flat cover 3 while under pressure from a press or other means downwardly, to move down as a compression member or head upon the contents of the boiler non-tiltably in any adjusted position. It will be understood that the tensioned spring ends 11 serve to draw upon the clutch members 15 to keep their detents interlocked with the boiler detents 2. The supporting body 5 for the spring has preferably a curvate upper face 1G., upon which the spring ends lie `flatly when the clutch members 15 are forced downwardly by a press engaging them from above, and then the body 5 and the spring ends act as a, solid body in shifting the flat cover 3 downwardly and in compression of the boiler contents to the desired shape, so that the cover is non-tiltable, and firmly holds the contents in place, the ends of the body 5 extending uite the whole length of the spring ends to t e pintles 12, allowingr no flexion nor displacements of the cover.

It will be evident that the body 5 may have an upper surface 10 flat horizontally, or even tilted or slightly concave upwardly, and yet come within my invention, the important feature of the body 5 being its complete support of the spring ends along their whole lengt-hs while the members 15 and the contents of the boiler are under downward pressure, the spring being thereby rendered a rigid body as far as any further downward deflection is concerned. There remain no fiexible spring terminations to yield, one or the other, when the contents of the boiler are of an irregular shape, whereby the latter cause the flat cover 3 to tilt in any direction, to spoil the desired shape of said contents.

All other devices have been found wanting in this regard, where any spring part is left subject to flexion when the boiler contents are initially of a somewhat resisting and irreguI lar shape, so that packing houses have discarded them altogether.

An object of using the convex top 10 on the body 5 1s the larger amount of clearance obtained thereby between the spring 11 and the surface 10 when the spring is untensioned, which is of greater convenience in the cleanin of these parts after being used.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is:

1. In combination, an open top boiler having engaging means on opposite outer walls, a flat bottom top closure therefor and movable thereinto having a longitudinal top bearing surface, a flat bar spring secured medially along said bearing surface with its opposite parts bent upwardly, clutch-hangers swingingly connected to the terminations of said spring to overhang along and over the said engaging means and having engaging means thereon to coengage with and for vertical adjustments along said` engaging means on the boiler, said spring parts being separated from said closure top bearing surface when untensioned, and said top bearing surface being extended longitudinally under and to engage the whole length of each spring part to lts connection with a clutch-hanger when the spring parts are in a state of downward compression.

2. In combination, an open top boiler having. engaging means on opposite outer walls, ay substantially fiat top closure movable in and out of said boiler and having a medial longitudinal bearing body supported therealong and having a downwardly curved top surface, a fiatbar spring medially secured to the middle of said bearing body and with its opposite parts curved upwardly outwardly, clutch-hangers swingingly connected to the tern'iinations of said spring parts and depending without the boiler to engage t-he engaging means on the latter for vertical adjustments relative thereto, said spring parts being engaged as far their said swinging connections with the curvate surface of said bearing body in a certain position of adjustment of the clutch-hangers when under downward compression, preventing tilting o the closure, while giving clearance between the spring parts and the bearing body when the spring is not in engagement with the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY L. VHE'ELOCK.

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